Huberman Resigns As CPS CEO

By Kevin Robinson in News on Nov 4, 2010 1:30PM

Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman will leave, effective November 29, according to schools spokesperson Monique Bond. Last month rumors swirled around the local media that Huberman wouldn't be around after the new mayor takes office, and that he would leave before Daley's term ends. Daley told the Sun-Times that he wasn't concerned that the nation's third-largest public school system would be without a head. “Ron sees fit, if he decides, to move on. There’s nothing wrong with that. You never want anybody to be in the position that don’t want to be in that position. That is really unfair,’’ the mayor said at the time. Huberman denied reports in October that he would be leaving CPS anytime soon, although acknowledged that his tenure would likely end around the time Daley's did.

But according to City Hall sources that spoke to the Sun-Times anonymously, Daley forced the issue, “The mayor has to get moving on putting a solid plan in place. Otherwise, you lose momentum. On his own, Ron has stated he’s not staying. You have a chief education officer’s job that’s empty and a CEO who said he’s looking elsewhere," said the source, referring to the vacancy created when Barbara Eason-Watkins left June 30. "You cannot have that be the case in an institution that’s responsible for 450,000 kids.’’ 40th Ward Ald. Pat O'Connor voiced some of the skepticism that parents and voters are feeling about the schools. “It would have been better if the guy had stayed until the end of the school year or waited until a new mayor was elected and found someone to replace him. But you play the hand you’re dealt,’’

O’Connor told the Sun-Times. “Everybody knows he’s not gonna be there. What needs to be accomplished wasn’t gonna happen anyhow because the level of cooperation wasn’t there.’’ O'Connor went on to sum up the dire situation that political change in Chicago leaves the public schools in. “The problem is, anybody going in there might feel it’s a short-term engagement. The question is, can you find really dedicated, talented people willing to take that chance. It does handicap the system,’’ he said. “If it wasn’t the Board of Ed, you might say, ‘Let it limp along and let a new mayor appoint people he has confidence in.’ But I don’t think he can do that with public education. I’m just hoping Mayor Daley can find some talented people who can keep that place moving forward.’’